What can we expect from The Last Dinner Party’s new chapter?
Some artists prefer the element of surprise when announcing their new releases, but refreshingly, there has never been a hint of that when it comes to The Last Dinner Party.
As an almost ever-present force in the British indie rock scene over the past few years, the band have executed a masterclass in how to not only establish yourselves, but become a vital presence that no one can live without.
Subsequently, after a debut number one album with Prelude to Ecstasy and a year in which The Last Dinner Party became the table that everyone but anyone wanted to sit at, it was no shock when they revealed the news of their sophomore record, From the Pyre, last week. Coupled with the sense that they could be the chosen ones to revitalise the drought of rock bands, it feels as though the five-piece didn’t just dream about this, but that it was in their master plan all along.
Much of what we can expect from the upcoming album From the Pyre has been explained by the group already when they said: “This record is a collection of stories, and the concept of album-as-mythos binds them. ‘The Pyre’ itself is an allegorical place in which these tales originate, a place of violence and destruction but also regeneration, passion and light.”
Reimagining everyday aspects of life into “pathological extremes,” it doesn’t seem to be losing any of The Last Dinner Party’s well-established theatricality, but, except this time, is tilting that notion on its head.
Yet despite the much-anticipated treasure trove of lyrical poetry, the group have never lost sight of what ultimately makes an enthralling pop song. With catchy hooks that reel you in like their latest prey, the band have successfully capitalised on their breakout rapture by litmus-testing tracks like ‘This is the Killer Speaking’ during their live appearances over the past year. In that context, if storming audience reactions are anything to go by, they’re already on to a winner.
But what if The Last Dinner Party catch second album syndrome?
Of course, even for a band with such universal adoration and acclaim seemingly already placed on a plate ready for them to feast, no one can escape the scary wrath of the notorious second album. Ultimately, for all we know, ‘This is the Killer Speaking’ could be the album’s only success and the rest are all duds – although, admittedly, it doesn’t seem likely.
What has set The Last Dinner Party apart in their brand is a sense of mystic refinement, and not just because they all went to private school. Where Prelude to Ecstasy oozed with a regalia of pomp and flair, From the Pyre seems to focus on mythology, medieval warfare, and the Earth. Their Venn diagram collides with notions of classic civility, history, intrigue, and charm – and as such, we’ve found our precise answer to what comes next.
It’s clear that The Last Dinner Party never entered into the process for From the Pyre with any preconditions or intentions of making a follow-up hit record. They just wanted to see where the story would take them, and the fact that this has landed in a place of mythos and enchanting storytelling is testament to the spark of their creative vision.
We still have to wait until October before the full force of From the Pyre is unleashed, but as things stand right now, there’s no doubt we’ll all become wrapped up in its magic.
